SLEEK and sporty are not the words that normally jump to mind when talking about off-roaders.

THE LATEST generation M-Class from Mercedes-Benz fits into both categories.

While the German car-makers have followed the trend for downsizing engines, they have also created a sleek new look for their large 4x4.

The third generation model is longer, wider and lower than its predecessor, but still ­unmistakably an M-Class.

The lower and more sloping roof is one of the keys to the sporty appearance.

It’s as if the M-Class has been training at the gym, so that where there was bulk there is now rippling muscle, and it feels lighter and more sprightly to drive. The 2.1-litre ML 250 BlueTEC Special Edition that I tested – which has stylish extras including aluminium running boards – replaces the 3.0-litre V6 CDI in the previous M-Class range. This is yet another example of downsizing.

It means the loss of 800cc and two cylinders, but the trick is that there is no reduction in power or torque.

In fact, the power and torque of this four-cylinder is identical to the V6, allowing the ML 250 to reach 62mph in nine seconds flat, on its way to a top speed of 130mph.

Mercedes say ­performance and economy are helped by the new drag-reducing design. Or, as it puts it, its “slipperiness”.

The ML 250 BlueTEC is the most fuel-efficient SUV in its class, with average fuel consumption of 44.8mpg, which is far better than many family saloons on the market and more than 28 per cent better than the car it replaces.

Front wheel spoilers, redesigned exterior mirror housings, side spoilers on the rear window of the ML 250 BlueTEC, aerodynamic light alloy wheels, as well as sealed joints between the bonnet and the headlamps, all help to channel air cleanly around the car at speed.

There are also active aerodynamics beneath the bonnet so that the radiator receives cooling air only when needed.

Other consumption reducing assets include energy-saving engine ancillary components, an on-demand compressor on the air conditioning system and fuel-saving tyres.

On the road, the ML 250 is light and easy to handle, and feels a world away from earlier generations of M-Class which, as good as they were, tended to feel bulky.

This sporting SUV still has some roll on corners but it’s all very much under control, allowing you to drive it in a far more exhilarating manner.

With its 7G-TRONIC PLUS seven-speed automatic, it purrs along in sophisticated silence, easily disguising that there is a diesel engine under the bonnet. In fact, it’s quieter than many of the German car maker’s luxury saloons.

And if you want hands-on gear-changing, it’s available, thanks to the paddles behind the steering wheel.

Despite the slimmer look, this model still offers an abundance of interior space for passengers and generous luggage space under the rear hatch.

The interior is a nice blend of SUV ruggedness with Mercedes-Benz saloon luxury.

And even though most people will never take their vehicle off-road, the permanent electronic four-wheel-drive system, 4MATIC, means you can tackle rugged of terrain.

This car can alter the split between the drive to the front and rear axles, from 30:70 to 70:30, depending upon the need at any given time.

The new ML 250 is a real car for all seasons – and a car for all reasons.

And while it’s still easily identifiable as an M-Class, its new slimline shape makes it far more desirable and far more car-like to drive – which gives you the best of all worlds.